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Texas 811 rules

In Texas you call Texas811 (the main one of several notification centers): no later than 48 hours before excavation begins, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. Ticket life: 14 days unless you and the operator agree on longer (Railroad Commission pipeline rule).

Advance notice before digging
No later than 48 hours before excavation begins, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
Farthest ahead you can call
14 days.
How long the ticket or marks last
14 days unless you and the operator agree on longer (Railroad Commission pipeline rule).
Tolerance zone (hand dig inside it)
Half the pipeline width plus at least 18 inches either side (Railroad Commission pipeline rule).
White lining (premarking)
When the excavation site cannot be clearly identified and described on the ticket.
The law
Tex. Util. Code ch. 251 (251.151); 16 TAC ch. 18 (18.3).

Good to know: Only digging 16 inches or deeper counts as excavation under the state law.

Call 811 from anywhere in Texas to reach Texas811 (the main one of several notification centers), or file online at texas811.org.

Running several digs at once?

TrackOver keeps each ticket number, markout date and expiry on the job it belongs to, and warns before a ticket runs out, so the crew in the hole isn't digging on a dead ticket.

811 ticket trackingFind dig work on the board

Where this comes from

Checked September 24, 2026 against the one-call center's published copy of the law, because the legislature's own site couldn't be read directly. Rules change; confirm with the center before a big job.

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